US6838986B2 - Notification of use of network-enabled device - Google Patents

Notification of use of network-enabled device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6838986B2
US6838986B2 US09/962,259 US96225901A US6838986B2 US 6838986 B2 US6838986 B2 US 6838986B2 US 96225901 A US96225901 A US 96225901A US 6838986 B2 US6838986 B2 US 6838986B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
network
notification
enabled device
status
change
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US09/962,259
Other versions
US20030058096A1 (en
Inventor
Eugene Shteyn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. reassignment KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SHTEYN, EUGENE
Priority to US09/962,259 priority Critical patent/US6838986B2/en
Priority to AT02765200T priority patent/ATE403995T1/en
Priority to DE60228105T priority patent/DE60228105D1/en
Priority to CN02818699.0A priority patent/CN1559120B/en
Priority to EP02765200A priority patent/EP1433284B1/en
Priority to JP2003531680A priority patent/JP4268044B2/en
Priority to PCT/IB2002/003678 priority patent/WO2003028294A1/en
Priority to ES02765200T priority patent/ES2310212T3/en
Publication of US20030058096A1 publication Critical patent/US20030058096A1/en
Publication of US6838986B2 publication Critical patent/US6838986B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
    • H04L43/08—Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
    • H04L43/0805—Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters by checking availability
    • H04L43/0817—Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters by checking availability by checking functioning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/06—Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
    • H04L43/02—Capturing of monitoring data
    • H04L43/028—Capturing of monitoring data by filtering
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L43/00—Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
    • H04L43/10—Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of electronics, and in particular to the communication of status information of devices via a network.
  • Electronic devices are increasingly becoming “network-enabled”, such that communications with these devices can be effected via a network, such as the Internet.
  • a network such as the Internet.
  • Devices and appliances in a home network are remotely controllable via an interface between the home network and the Internet.
  • a user at a remote location can contact the home network, check the status of particular devices, turn devices on or off, and so on.
  • a user initiates the communication with the network-enabled devices.
  • network-enabled devices can be accessed by un-authorized users, which may result in a network or device failure, or other consequences.
  • a monitoring system and method wherein network-enabled devices are configured to report changes of state to the monitoring system.
  • the monitoring system is configured to filter each change of state to determine whether the change of state constitutes a reportable event, based on a profile associated with the device. If the event is reportable, it is communicated to one or more other network-enabled devices.
  • Each device is also configured to periodically verify its presence to the monitoring system, and the unexplained absence of the device is treated as a change of state of state of the device. In like manner, a change to the profile of a device is also treated as a change of state of the device.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a network of electronic devices coupled via a plurality of networks.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of select devices in the network of electronic devices coupled via a network.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a network 100 of electronic devices 110 coupled via a plurality of networks.
  • These electronic devices 110 communicate with the Internet 120 directly, or indirectly, via a wide area network 130 , a local area network 140 , a home control network 150 , and so on.
  • Other networks are also common in the art, such as a “personal area network” that typically comprises personal items such as a watch, a billfold, a PDA or cell phone, connected via a Bluetooth-compliant network.
  • a device 110 that can send and/or receive information directly or indirectly via a network is commonly termed a “network-enabled” device.
  • FIG. 1 Illustrated in FIG. 1 , for example, is a desktop computer (PC) 110 a that is coupled to the Internet 120 via an office LAN 140 , and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) 110 b that is coupled to the Internet 120 via a WAN 130 , such as a dial-up connection provided by the local telephone company.
  • a user with a PDA 110 b can send information to the computer 110 a from wherever the user happens to be.
  • the user with the PDA 110 b may access a home control network 150 and control a lighting system 110 d , via the Internet 120 .
  • network-enabled devices 110 are configured to transmit a change of status message via a network 100 for defined events, such as whenever they are activated.
  • the user with the PDA 110 b can be notified whenever the computer 110 a at the office LAN 140 is being used. If the computer 110 a is not expected to be used while the user is absent from the office environment, the user can take appropriate measures, such as contacting a security service at the office environment.
  • the user with a PDA 110 b can be notified when a fax is received by a fax machine 110 f , or notified of a power failure in a home environment via a power monitor 110 e.
  • an Internet-enabled monitor service 115 is provided to facilitate the communication of reportable events.
  • the service 115 is configured to receive the change of status messages from network-enabled devices 110 , via the Internet 120 , and to route notifications to select recipients, using conventional communications schemes, such as sending a ‘pager’ message, a voice-recorded message, an email message, a fax message, and so on.
  • the service 115 includes a filter 210 that determines whether an event at the device 110 constitutes a reportable event to a notification instrument 250 .
  • a profile 220 is associated with each monitored network-enabled device 110 , or with a set of network-enabled devices 110 that identifies reportable events, or, in the alternative, identifies non-reportable events.
  • the filter 210 receives the change of status message from the device 110 , it compares the change of status to the information contained in the profile 220 .
  • the profile 220 also provides an identification of the intended recipient(s) of the reportable event notification. If the event is reportable, the filter 210 provides the event notification information to an event reporter 230 that is configured to initiate the appropriate communications activity to effect the notification.
  • a communications device 240 provides the access to the appropriate Internet 120 or WAN 130 communications network, or others, to effect the notification.
  • Each network-enabled device 110 is configured to report particular events, or changes of state, related to that device, or to a class of devices. Each network-enabled device 110 will generally send the status reports to a plurality of other network-enable devices 110 , and these other network-enabled devices 110 are configured to subsequently re-transmit select status reports to the service 115 . In this manner, events that are considered significant are communicated redundantly to the service 115 , to increase the reliability of the system.
  • the service 115 is configured to filter the multiple reports so as to minimize multiple notifications to the notification instrument 250 . Additionally, the service 115 is preferably configured to consider a lack of redundant notification from particular devices 110 as reportable events.
  • the notification instrument 250 is any device that can receive a message from the communications device 240 at the monitor service 115 , and typically includes a communications receiver 250 a and a notification device 250 b .
  • the instrument 250 is a telephone
  • the receiver 250 a is either a wired or a wireless device coupled to a speaker 250 b for the user to listen to an audio message from the event reporter 230 .
  • the communications device 250 a is a switchboard at a security service that routes a text message to a display device 250 b at a security monitoring station. A security person may then contact the authorized user of the device 110 that reported the activity to determine whether the activity is authorized, and take appropriate action thereafter.
  • the notification instrument 250 may be a component of a network-enabled device 110 , or a component of the monitor service system 115 . As noted above, the notification instrument 250 is preferably configured to effect a remedial action for some or all of the reported events.
  • the example device 110 includes a function module for providing the intended function of the device 110 , such as a facsimile receiving and transmitting module in a facsimile machine 110 f in FIG. 1 .
  • the example device 110 also includes a status reporter 265 that is configured to provide the aforementioned change of status reports to the monitor service 115 , via the network 100 , based on information provided by the function module 260 .
  • the status reporter 265 is configured to report whether the function module 260 is activated.
  • the status reporter 265 is configurable to allow the select reporting of different states of the function module 260 , such as whether the module 260 is activated for transmission or reception, whether the module 260 is experiencing problems (error reporting), and so on.
  • the status reporter 265 may be configured to report whether the ignition is turned on, as well as periodically reporting the boat's location, via a coupling to a GPS receiver within the function module 260 . In this manner, a theft of the boat 110 c will effect a notification to the user, via a message indicating that the ignition has been activated, and subsequently aid in the recovery of the stolen boat via the location messages.
  • the user may include the intended route of the boat 110 c in the profile 220 of FIG. 2 , and instruct the filter 210 to notify the Coast Guard if the location messages indicate a significant variance from this course, or a lack of progress along this course.
  • the communications device 270 in the device 110 may be a satellite transmitter/receiver that provides dial-in access to the Internet 120 .
  • the network-enabled device 110 is also configured to facilitate verification that the device 110 is connected to the network 100 . Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a “heartbeat” device 275 that is configured to periodically transmit a “heartbeat” to the monitor service 115 .
  • the monitor service 115 is configured to expect this heartbeat from the device 110 at regular intervals, or at pre-determined times, or at other pre-arranged intervals.
  • the monitor service 115 may be configured to send a periodic query at regular intervals, and the heartbeat device 275 is configured to acknowledge receipt of the query, via the network 100 .
  • the interval duration is contained in the profile 220 for each device, or each set of devices.
  • the event reporter 230 transmits a corresponding message to a notification instrument 250 , as detailed above.
  • the profile 220 may contain ‘dynamic’ and ‘multi-dimensional’ rules and criteria for determining whether a change of state at a device 110 constitutes a reportable event. Illustrated in FIG. 1 , for example, is an identification device 190 that is also coupled to the Internet 120 , either directly or indirectly. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the identification device 190 is configured to enable a determination of a user's location, and the filter 210 is configured to determine whether an event is reportable based upon the user's location, as specified in the profile 220 .
  • the profile 220 may be configured to indicate that only particular events from the devices 110 a and 110 f on the office LAN 140 should be reported to the user.
  • the user's location may be implicitly or explicitly provided to the monitor service 115 for location-dependent filter processing. For example, when a user initially activates the PC 110 a on the office LAN 140 , an event may be reported by the monitor service 115 . Subsequently, the monitor system 115 may be configured to assume that the user is now at the office, absent notification to the contrary.
  • the profile 220 may include time-of-day parameters that determine whether particular events are reportable.
  • events from the devices 110 a , 110 f on the office LAN 140 may be specified to be reportable only if they occur outside of normal business hours.
  • the profile 220 may include rules and criteria that are based on the status of multiple network-enabled devices 10 . For example, if a user plans to either spend the day driving or boating, the user may instruct the filter 210 , via the profile 220 , not to report the status of the boat 110 c or automobile 110 h , except if both devices contemporaneously report an active state. In this manner, while the user is on the boat 110 c , an activation of the automobile 110 h will produce a reportable event.
  • the notification instrument 250 is configurable to effect an automated response to particular events. For example, an event is reported to the notification instrument when PC 110 a on the office LAN 140 sends a communication, such as an e-mail message, while the keyboard, or any other input peripheral (not shown) of the PC 110 a is not activated. Such an event may indicate that the PC 110 a is infected by a software worm, and the notification instrument 250 may automatically activate an internal or external anti-virus application upon receipt of the notification.
  • the profile 220 may be created by, or modified by, a learning system that is configured to learn a routine itinerary of events associated with a particular user, or with a particular set of devices 110 . Thereafter, some or all of the events may be considered reportable only if they differ substantially from the routine itinerary.
  • the notification device 250 may be configured to allow a response to each notification, so that a user may easily modify the profile 220 by providing feedback, such as “don't notify me for this event in the future”, or “don't notify me of this event if it occurs around this time-of-day in the future”, and so on.
  • the monitor service 115 may routinely process the profile 220 to determine which events from a device 110 are never reportable, and thereafter instruct the device 110 to cease transmission of these events until notified otherwise.

Abstract

Network-enabled devices are configured to report changes of state to a monitoring system. The monitoring system is configured to filter each change of state to determine whether the change of state constitutes a reportable event, based on a profile associated with the device. If the event is reportable, it is communicated to one or more other network-enabled devices. Each device is also configured to periodically verify its presence to the monitoring system, and the unexplained absence of the device is treated as a change of state of state of the device. In like manner, a change to the profile of a device is also treated as a change of state of the device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of electronics, and in particular to the communication of status information of devices via a network.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices are increasingly becoming “network-enabled”, such that communications with these devices can be effected via a network, such as the Internet. Devices and appliances in a home network, for example, are remotely controllable via an interface between the home network and the Internet. A user at a remote location can contact the home network, check the status of particular devices, turn devices on or off, and so on.
Conventionally, a user initiates the communication with the network-enabled devices. This requires the user to be proactive, and provides only sporadic glimpses of the status of devices, when the user happens to call for a status update. Also, network-enabled devices can be accessed by un-authorized users, which may result in a network or device failure, or other consequences.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a system and method for continuously monitoring the status of select network-enabled devices. It is a further object of this invention to provide a system and method for selectively reporting particular events related to network-enabled devices.
These objects, and others, are achieved by providing a monitoring system and method wherein network-enabled devices are configured to report changes of state to the monitoring system. The monitoring system is configured to filter each change of state to determine whether the change of state constitutes a reportable event, based on a profile associated with the device. If the event is reportable, it is communicated to one or more other network-enabled devices. Each device is also configured to periodically verify its presence to the monitoring system, and the unexplained absence of the device is treated as a change of state of state of the device. In like manner, a change to the profile of a device is also treated as a change of state of the device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a network of electronic devices coupled via a plurality of networks.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of select devices in the network of electronic devices coupled via a network.
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a network 100 of electronic devices 110 coupled via a plurality of networks. These electronic devices 110, for example, communicate with the Internet 120 directly, or indirectly, via a wide area network 130, a local area network 140, a home control network 150, and so on. Other networks, not illustrated, are also common in the art, such as a “personal area network” that typically comprises personal items such as a watch, a billfold, a PDA or cell phone, connected via a Bluetooth-compliant network. A device 110 that can send and/or receive information directly or indirectly via a network is commonly termed a “network-enabled” device.
Illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, is a desktop computer (PC) 110 a that is coupled to the Internet 120 via an office LAN 140, and a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) 110 b that is coupled to the Internet 120 via a WAN 130, such as a dial-up connection provided by the local telephone company. Because of the common Internet 120 connection, a user with a PDA 110 b can send information to the computer 110 a from wherever the user happens to be. In like manner, the user with the PDA 110 b may access a home control network 150 and control a lighting system 110 d, via the Internet 120.
In accordance with this invention, network-enabled devices 110 are configured to transmit a change of status message via a network 100 for defined events, such as whenever they are activated. For example, the user with the PDA 110 b can be notified whenever the computer 110 a at the office LAN 140 is being used. If the computer 110 a is not expected to be used while the user is absent from the office environment, the user can take appropriate measures, such as contacting a security service at the office environment. In a routine application, the user with a PDA 110 b can be notified when a fax is received by a fax machine 110 f, or notified of a power failure in a home environment via a power monitor 110 e.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, an Internet-enabled monitor service 115 is provided to facilitate the communication of reportable events. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the service 115 is configured to receive the change of status messages from network-enabled devices 110, via the Internet 120, and to route notifications to select recipients, using conventional communications schemes, such as sending a ‘pager’ message, a voice-recorded message, an email message, a fax message, and so on. To avoid messaging overload, the service 115 includes a filter 210 that determines whether an event at the device 110 constitutes a reportable event to a notification instrument 250. A profile 220 is associated with each monitored network-enabled device 110, or with a set of network-enabled devices 110 that identifies reportable events, or, in the alternative, identifies non-reportable events. When the filter 210 receives the change of status message from the device 110, it compares the change of status to the information contained in the profile 220. The profile 220 also provides an identification of the intended recipient(s) of the reportable event notification. If the event is reportable, the filter 210 provides the event notification information to an event reporter 230 that is configured to initiate the appropriate communications activity to effect the notification. A communications device 240 provides the access to the appropriate Internet 120 or WAN 130 communications network, or others, to effect the notification.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a hierarchical reporting and filtering process is employed. Each network-enabled device 110 is configured to report particular events, or changes of state, related to that device, or to a class of devices. Each network-enabled device 110 will generally send the status reports to a plurality of other network-enable devices 110, and these other network-enabled devices 110 are configured to subsequently re-transmit select status reports to the service 115. In this manner, events that are considered significant are communicated redundantly to the service 115, to increase the reliability of the system. The service 115 is configured to filter the multiple reports so as to minimize multiple notifications to the notification instrument 250. Additionally, the service 115 is preferably configured to consider a lack of redundant notification from particular devices 110 as reportable events.
The notification instrument 250 is any device that can receive a message from the communications device 240 at the monitor service 115, and typically includes a communications receiver 250 a and a notification device 250 b. In a simple example, the instrument 250 is a telephone, and the receiver 250 a is either a wired or a wireless device coupled to a speaker 250 b for the user to listen to an audio message from the event reporter 230. In another example, the communications device 250 a is a switchboard at a security service that routes a text message to a display device 250 b at a security monitoring station. A security person may then contact the authorized user of the device 110 that reported the activity to determine whether the activity is authorized, and take appropriate action thereafter. Alternatively, the notification instrument 250 may be a component of a network-enabled device 110, or a component of the monitor service system 115. As noted above, the notification instrument 250 is preferably configured to effect a remedial action for some or all of the reported events.
An example block diagram of a typical network-enabled device 110 is also illustrated in FIG. 2. The example device 110 includes a function module for providing the intended function of the device 110, such as a facsimile receiving and transmitting module in a facsimile machine 110 f in FIG. 1. The example device 110 also includes a status reporter 265 that is configured to provide the aforementioned change of status reports to the monitor service 115, via the network 100, based on information provided by the function module 260. In a basic embodiment, the status reporter 265 is configured to report whether the function module 260 is activated. In a preferred embodiment, the status reporter 265 is configurable to allow the select reporting of different states of the function module 260, such as whether the module 260 is activated for transmission or reception, whether the module 260 is experiencing problems (error reporting), and so on. In the example of the boat 110 c of FIG. 1, the status reporter 265 may be configured to report whether the ignition is turned on, as well as periodically reporting the boat's location, via a coupling to a GPS receiver within the function module 260. In this manner, a theft of the boat 110 c will effect a notification to the user, via a message indicating that the ignition has been activated, and subsequently aid in the recovery of the stolen boat via the location messages. In like manner, when a user plans an extended voyage, the user may include the intended route of the boat 110 c in the profile 220 of FIG. 2, and instruct the filter 210 to notify the Coast Guard if the location messages indicate a significant variance from this course, or a lack of progress along this course. In this example, the communications device 270 in the device 110 may be a satellite transmitter/receiver that provides dial-in access to the Internet 120.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the network-enabled device 110 is also configured to facilitate verification that the device 110 is connected to the network 100. Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a “heartbeat” device 275 that is configured to periodically transmit a “heartbeat” to the monitor service 115. Correspondingly, the monitor service 115 is configured to expect this heartbeat from the device 110 at regular intervals, or at pre-determined times, or at other pre-arranged intervals. Alternatively, the monitor service 115 may be configured to send a periodic query at regular intervals, and the heartbeat device 275 is configured to acknowledge receipt of the query, via the network 100. Preferably, the interval duration is contained in the profile 220 for each device, or each set of devices. If the profile 220 does not contain a specified heartbeat duration, a default value is used, which may be an ‘infinite’ duration, indicating that the device need not periodically report a heartbeat. If the monitor service 115 does not receive the heartbeat after the interval duration, and this lack-of-heartbeat is specified in the profile 220 as a reportable event, the event reporter 230 transmits a corresponding message to a notification instrument 250, as detailed above.
In a preferred embodiment, the profile 220 may contain ‘dynamic’ and ‘multi-dimensional’ rules and criteria for determining whether a change of state at a device 110 constitutes a reportable event. Illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, is an identification device 190 that is also coupled to the Internet 120, either directly or indirectly. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the identification device 190 is configured to enable a determination of a user's location, and the filter 210 is configured to determine whether an event is reportable based upon the user's location, as specified in the profile 220. For example, if the identification device 190 is coupled to the Internet 120 via the home network 150, indicating that the user is at home, the profile 220 may be configured to indicate that only particular events from the devices 110 a and 110 f on the office LAN 140 should be reported to the user. In like manner, the user's location may be implicitly or explicitly provided to the monitor service 115 for location-dependent filter processing. For example, when a user initially activates the PC 110 a on the office LAN 140, an event may be reported by the monitor service 115. Subsequently, the monitor system 115 may be configured to assume that the user is now at the office, absent notification to the contrary. Similarly, the profile 220 may include time-of-day parameters that determine whether particular events are reportable. For example, events from the devices 110 a, 110 f on the office LAN 140 may be specified to be reportable only if they occur outside of normal business hours. Also similarly, the profile 220 may include rules and criteria that are based on the status of multiple network-enabled devices 10. For example, if a user plans to either spend the day driving or boating, the user may instruct the filter 210, via the profile 220, not to report the status of the boat 110 c or automobile 110 h, except if both devices contemporaneously report an active state. In this manner, while the user is on the boat 110 c, an activation of the automobile 110 h will produce a reportable event.
In a preferred embodiment, the notification instrument 250 is configurable to effect an automated response to particular events. For example, an event is reported to the notification instrument when PC 110 a on the office LAN 140 sends a communication, such as an e-mail message, while the keyboard, or any other input peripheral (not shown) of the PC 110 a is not activated. Such an event may indicate that the PC 110 a is infected by a software worm, and the notification instrument 250 may automatically activate an internal or external anti-virus application upon receipt of the notification.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope. For example, the profile 220 may be created by, or modified by, a learning system that is configured to learn a routine itinerary of events associated with a particular user, or with a particular set of devices 110. Thereafter, some or all of the events may be considered reportable only if they differ substantially from the routine itinerary. In like manner, the notification device 250 may be configured to allow a response to each notification, so that a user may easily modify the profile 220 by providing feedback, such as “don't notify me for this event in the future”, or “don't notify me of this event if it occurs around this time-of-day in the future”, and so on. In like manner, the monitor service 115 may routinely process the profile 220 to determine which events from a device 110 are never reportable, and thereafter instruct the device 110 to cease transmission of these events until notified otherwise. These and other system configuration and optimization features will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, and are included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (19)

1. A monitor service system comprising:
a communications device that is configured to receive a plurality of change of status messages from a network-enabled device, via a network communications path,
a filter, operably coupled to the communication device, that is configured to select one or more of the plurality of change of status messages as reportable events, based on a profile that is associated with the network-enabled device, and
an event reporter, operably coupled to the filter, that is configured to effect notification of the one or more reportable events to a notification instrument, wherein the communication path includes at least one of:
a home-control network,
a personal area network.
2. The monitor service system of claim 1, wherein
the event reporter is further configured to effect a notification of a lack of communication with the network-enabled device, based on whether a heartbeat signal has been received from the network-enabled device within a specified duration of time.
3. The monitor service system of claim 2, wherein
the profile indicates the specified duration of time for receiving the heartbeat signal, and
the filter is further configured to determine whether the heartbeat signal has been received from the network-enabled device within the specified duration of time.
4. The monitor service system of claim 1, wherein
the filter is further configured to determine whether each of the plurality of change of status messages corresponds to the reportable event based on at least one of:
a user location,
a time-of-day parameter,
a location of the network-enabled device, and
a status of another network-enabled device.
5. The monitor service system of claim 1, further comprising a learning system that is configured to learn a routine itinerary of events associated with a particular user.
6. The monitor service system of claim 1, further including
the notification instrument.
7. The monitor service system of claim 6, wherein
the notification instrument is configured to effect remedial action upon receipt of the notification of the one or more reportable events.
8. An apparatus comprising:
a communications device that is configured to facilitate communication to a monitoring system via a network communications path, and
a status reporter, operably coupled to the communications device, that is configured to report an activation of the apparatus to the monitoring system, via the communications device, to facilitate select notification of the activation of the apparatus to a notification instrument associated with the apparatus, based on a profile at the monitoring system that is associated with the apparatus, wherein the communication device is configured to operate in a communication path that includes at least one of:
a home-control network,
a personal area network.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including:
a heartbeat device, operably coupled to the communications device, that is configured to periodically communicate a heartbeat signal to the monitoring system to facilitate a verification of communications via the network communications path.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes one of:
a computer device,
a vehicle, and
a telephone.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the status reporter is further configured to report select changes of state of the apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the profile comprises a learning system that is configured to learn a routine itinerary of events associated with a particular user.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, further including
an other notification instrument that is configured to receive an other notification of activation of an other network-enabled apparatus.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein
the other notification instrument is configured to effect a remedial action upon receipt of the other notification of activation.
15. A method of providing status information regarding a network-enabled device, comprising:
receiving a plurality of change of status messages from the network-enabled device via a network communications path,
filtering the change of status message to determine which of the plurality of change of status messages corresponds to a reportable event, based on a profile that is associated with the network-enabled device, and
notifying a notification instrument of the reportable event.
16. The method of claim 15, further including
notifying the notification instrument of a lack of communication with the network-enabled device, based on whether a heartbeat signal has been received from the network-enabled device within a specified duration of time.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein
the profile indicates the specified duration of time for receiving the heartbeat signal.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein
determining which of the plurality of change of status messages corresponds to the reportable event is based on at least one of:
a user location,
a time-of-day parameter,
a location of the network-enabled device, and
a status of another network-enabled device.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein
the network communications path includes at least one of:
an Internet network,
a home-control network,
a personal area network,
a local area network, and
a wide area network.
US09/962,259 2001-09-25 2001-09-25 Notification of use of network-enabled device Expired - Lifetime US6838986B2 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/962,259 US6838986B2 (en) 2001-09-25 2001-09-25 Notification of use of network-enabled device
EP02765200A EP1433284B1 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 System and method for monitoring the status of a network device
DE60228105T DE60228105D1 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STATUS MONITORING A NETWORK DEVICE
CN02818699.0A CN1559120B (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 System and method for monitoring the status of a network device
AT02765200T ATE403995T1 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A NETWORK DEVICE
JP2003531680A JP4268044B2 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 System and method for monitoring the status of network devices
PCT/IB2002/003678 WO2003028294A1 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 System and method for monitoring the status of a network device
ES02765200T ES2310212T3 (en) 2001-09-25 2002-09-06 SYSTEM AND MONITORING PROCEDURE OF THE STATE OF A NETWORK DEVICE.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/962,259 US6838986B2 (en) 2001-09-25 2001-09-25 Notification of use of network-enabled device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030058096A1 US20030058096A1 (en) 2003-03-27
US6838986B2 true US6838986B2 (en) 2005-01-04

Family

ID=25505615

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/962,259 Expired - Lifetime US6838986B2 (en) 2001-09-25 2001-09-25 Notification of use of network-enabled device

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US6838986B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1433284B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4268044B2 (en)
CN (1) CN1559120B (en)
AT (1) ATE403995T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60228105D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2310212T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2003028294A1 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030140092A1 (en) * 2002-01-18 2003-07-24 Francesco Caruso Adaptive polling for asynchronous notification
US20050200471A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Garvy Patrick J. Internet facilitated fire alarm monitoring, control system and method
US20050234568A1 (en) * 2004-04-19 2005-10-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Home network system and method for operating the same
US20060063323A1 (en) * 2004-09-22 2006-03-23 Jason Munn High-speed RFID circuit placement method and device
US20060149395A1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2006-07-06 Carrier Corporation Routine and urgent remote notifications from multiple home comfort systems
US7093013B1 (en) * 2002-06-19 2006-08-15 Alcatel High availability system for network elements
US20080147827A1 (en) * 2006-12-14 2008-06-19 Morris Robert P Method And System For Synchronizing Operating Modes Of Networked Appliances
US20080147880A1 (en) * 2006-12-14 2008-06-19 Morris Robert P Methods And Systems For Routing A Message Over A Network
US20100017473A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2010-01-21 France Telecom Telecommunication Method and System Offering a Plurality of Mutually Consistent Means for Access to a Message Base
US20100121976A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2010-05-13 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Method, apparatus, and system for notifying real-time streaming protocol events

Families Citing this family (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001063883A2 (en) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-30 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Prepaid short messaging
US7110773B1 (en) * 2000-04-11 2006-09-19 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Mobile activity status tracker
US7522911B2 (en) * 2000-04-11 2009-04-21 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Wireless chat automatic status tracking
US7287056B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2007-10-23 Microsoft Corporation Dispatching notification to a device based on the current context of a user with the device
US7853272B2 (en) * 2001-12-21 2010-12-14 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Wireless network tour guide
US7126465B2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2006-10-24 Honeywell International, Inc. Monitoring system and method
JP2006024187A (en) * 2004-06-10 2006-01-26 Ricoh Co Ltd Communication device, apparatus message processing program and recording medium
US7711518B2 (en) * 2004-08-23 2010-05-04 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods, systems and computer program products for providing system operational status information
CN100421384C (en) * 2005-04-08 2008-09-24 华为技术有限公司 Method for shielding processing transient interruption notifying event
US7548158B2 (en) * 2005-08-08 2009-06-16 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. First responder wireless emergency alerting with automatic callback and location triggering
US20070066309A1 (en) * 2005-09-20 2007-03-22 Elizabeth Countryman Prepaid call management in intelligent network
US8463284B2 (en) * 2006-07-17 2013-06-11 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Short messaging system (SMS) proxy communications to enable location based services in wireless devices
US20080147546A1 (en) * 2006-09-19 2008-06-19 Walter Weichselbaumer Wireless device electronic wallet transaction validation
US9408046B2 (en) * 2006-10-03 2016-08-02 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. 911 data messaging
US7974235B2 (en) * 2006-11-13 2011-07-05 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Secure location session manager
ATE520219T1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2011-08-15 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M METHOD FOR PROCESSING EVENT NOTIFICATIONS AND EVENT SUBSCRIPTIONS
CN103581194A (en) * 2007-07-20 2014-02-12 华为技术有限公司 Real-time stream protocol event notification method, device and system
WO2009092441A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-30 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Selection of an edge node in a fixed access communication network
US8954028B2 (en) * 2008-09-25 2015-02-10 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Geo-redundant and high reliability commercial mobile alert system (CMAS)
US20110254687A1 (en) * 2010-04-15 2011-10-20 Nokia Corporation Method and apparatus for activating a device
EP2652980A2 (en) 2010-12-13 2013-10-23 TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. Location services gateway server
US9544271B2 (en) 2011-09-16 2017-01-10 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Anonymous messaging conversation
US8929854B2 (en) 2011-10-27 2015-01-06 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Emergency text messaging
US8911507B1 (en) * 2011-11-22 2014-12-16 Symantec Corporation Systems and methods for mitigating mobile device loss
FR2995480B1 (en) * 2012-09-11 2014-10-17 Schneider Electric Ind Sas METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING MESSAGES USING MOBILE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
CN103023716A (en) * 2012-11-26 2013-04-03 中怡(苏州)科技有限公司 System and method for monitoring network quality with zero traffic consumption
US9408047B2 (en) 2013-10-10 2016-08-02 Telecommunication Systems, Inc. Read acknowledgement interoperability for text messaging and IP messaging
US9301126B2 (en) * 2014-06-20 2016-03-29 Vodafone Ip Licensing Limited Determining multiple users of a network enabled device
US9967259B2 (en) * 2014-07-18 2018-05-08 Facebook, Inc. Controlling devices by social networking
EP3113477B1 (en) * 2015-06-30 2017-08-02 Axis AB Monitoring camera
RU2650351C1 (en) * 2017-09-18 2018-04-11 Юлия Алексеевна Щепочкина Heat-resistant steel

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5872931A (en) 1996-08-13 1999-02-16 Veritas Software, Corp. Management agent automatically executes corrective scripts in accordance with occurrences of specified events regardless of conditions of management interface and management engine
US6211782B1 (en) * 1999-01-09 2001-04-03 Heat-Timer Corporation Electronic message delivery system utilizable in the monitoring of remote equipment and method of same
US6255945B1 (en) * 1997-09-05 2001-07-03 Rick A. Britton Communication path integrity supervision in a network system for automatic alarm data communication
US6373383B1 (en) * 1995-03-29 2002-04-16 Aprisma Management Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for policy-based alarm notification in a distributed network management environment

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2129510C (en) * 1993-10-21 1999-04-13 Sasisekharan Raguram Automatic temporospatial pattern analysis and prediction in a telecommunications network using rule induction
WO1999039505A1 (en) * 1998-01-29 1999-08-05 Sol Frank Kavy Networked security system for network-based monitoring and control of an environment

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6373383B1 (en) * 1995-03-29 2002-04-16 Aprisma Management Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for policy-based alarm notification in a distributed network management environment
US5872931A (en) 1996-08-13 1999-02-16 Veritas Software, Corp. Management agent automatically executes corrective scripts in accordance with occurrences of specified events regardless of conditions of management interface and management engine
US6255945B1 (en) * 1997-09-05 2001-07-03 Rick A. Britton Communication path integrity supervision in a network system for automatic alarm data communication
US6211782B1 (en) * 1999-01-09 2001-04-03 Heat-Timer Corporation Electronic message delivery system utilizable in the monitoring of remote equipment and method of same

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/176,171, Cheng, filed Oct. 21, 1998.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/222,403, Cheng, filed Dec. 29, 1998.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/811,191, Shteyn, filed Mar. 16, 2001.

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030140092A1 (en) * 2002-01-18 2003-07-24 Francesco Caruso Adaptive polling for asynchronous notification
US7127485B2 (en) * 2002-01-18 2006-10-24 Telcordia Technologies, Inc. Adaptive polling for asynchronous notification
US7093013B1 (en) * 2002-06-19 2006-08-15 Alcatel High availability system for network elements
US7227450B2 (en) * 2004-03-12 2007-06-05 Honeywell International, Inc. Internet facilitated fire alarm monitoring, control system and method
US20050200471A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Garvy Patrick J. Internet facilitated fire alarm monitoring, control system and method
WO2006004573A3 (en) * 2004-03-12 2006-12-21 Honeywell Int Inc Internet facilitated fire alarm monitoring, control system and method
US20050234568A1 (en) * 2004-04-19 2005-10-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Home network system and method for operating the same
US7124184B2 (en) * 2004-04-19 2006-10-17 Lg Electronics Inc. Home networking system having alive and connection termination messages and method for operating same
US20060063323A1 (en) * 2004-09-22 2006-03-23 Jason Munn High-speed RFID circuit placement method and device
US20060149395A1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2006-07-06 Carrier Corporation Routine and urgent remote notifications from multiple home comfort systems
US20100017473A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2010-01-21 France Telecom Telecommunication Method and System Offering a Plurality of Mutually Consistent Means for Access to a Message Base
US9451093B2 (en) * 2006-11-15 2016-09-20 France Telecom Telecommunication method and system offering a plurality of mutually consistent means for access to a message base
US20080147827A1 (en) * 2006-12-14 2008-06-19 Morris Robert P Method And System For Synchronizing Operating Modes Of Networked Appliances
US20080147880A1 (en) * 2006-12-14 2008-06-19 Morris Robert P Methods And Systems For Routing A Message Over A Network
US20100121976A1 (en) * 2007-07-20 2010-05-13 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Method, apparatus, and system for notifying real-time streaming protocol events
US8667124B2 (en) 2007-07-20 2014-03-04 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Method, apparatus, and system for notifying real-time streaming protocol events

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1559120B (en) 2014-06-25
CN1559120A (en) 2004-12-29
US20030058096A1 (en) 2003-03-27
JP2005504481A (en) 2005-02-10
EP1433284A1 (en) 2004-06-30
WO2003028294A1 (en) 2003-04-03
DE60228105D1 (en) 2008-09-18
EP1433284B1 (en) 2008-08-06
ES2310212T3 (en) 2009-01-01
JP4268044B2 (en) 2009-05-27
ATE403995T1 (en) 2008-08-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6838986B2 (en) Notification of use of network-enabled device
CN100539624C (en) The security remote-control system and the method for portable terminal and this portable terminal of use
US6703930B2 (en) Personal alerting apparatus and methods
US7574509B2 (en) Interactive two-way collaboration in process control plants
CA2635700C (en) A method and apparatus for using sms short code messaging to facilitate the transmission of a status update for a security system
EP1809057B1 (en) Plural wirelessly connected devices with user alarm if the wireless connection is lost or endangered
WO2001011586A1 (en) Alarm reporting system using the internet and instant messaging
CN101432779A (en) Security system reporting events through e-mail massages
US20070115108A1 (en) Security system status notification device and method
US20070167194A1 (en) Plural wirelessly connected devices with user alarm if wireless connection is lost or endangered
US20040047458A1 (en) Alarm signal interceptor, middleware processor, and re-transmitter using caller ID
JP2001202581A (en) Security reinforcing system
JP2005184719A (en) Monitoring apparatus, base station, and wireless lan system
US7979535B2 (en) Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring communications and taking a responsive action
JP4620218B2 (en) Home security system
JP4463119B2 (en) Projector management system
JP2005184190A (en) Monitoring device and program thereof
JP2005141481A (en) Security system
JP2010044737A (en) Information terminal apparatus and program
JP2004328562A (en) Network system maintenance technology
JP4949891B2 (en) Alarm system
JP2005071007A (en) Sensor system and its program
JP2002190075A (en) Monitoring information reporting device
US20070190969A1 (en) Communication module for facilitating monitoring an existing alarm system via a cellular telephone network
US20100063991A1 (en) Information Broadcasting System

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., NETHERLANDS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SHTEYN, EUGENE;REEL/FRAME:012206/0410

Effective date: 20010924

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 12